A thick cloud of grey smoke is wafting above the intersection of St. Clair Avenue at Yonge Street due to what Toronto Fire Services calls a five-alarm fire at 25 St. Clair Ave. W. That is the second-highest level of emergency the department can face. Fire officials have evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution. The fear is the building may collapse.

Fire at 25 St. Clair Ave. W. (Mark Kingstone)Smoke billows from 25 St. Clair Ave. W. (Courtesy Mark Kingstone)Approximately 80 fire fighters are battling a blaze at a mid-town building at Yonge and St. Clair (Courtesy/ Mark Kingstone)